When the disciples saw this, they were indignant, "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
--Matthew 26:8,9 TNIV

What they saw was the woman anoint Jesus with the very expensive perfume, and they just didn't get it. It was less about money, less about caring for the poor, and so much more about worship of Jesus. So they protested. Perhaps they worshiped moderation, but they didn't know much about worship of Jesus.

Do we? The woman taught us a great deal about true worship, and Jesus commended her to them. But they just kept scratching their heads and criticizing: "That's too much, that's overboard, she needs to control herself." But they were wrong and proved they knew little about true worship.